Force fall at Columbus 62-61
March 31, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
COLUMBUS, OH - The Georgia Force (4-1) fell to the Columbus Destroyers (2-2) despite scoring over 60 points (61) for the fifth consecutive game. Georgia was led by WR Chris Jackson who posted 13 receptions for 173 yards with three touchdowns, and QB Chris Greisen who completed 29 of 43 passes for 334 yards with seven touchdowns. The Force will look to rebound next week when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Soul, on Monday night, at 7:30 p.m., on ESPN2.
At the end of the first quarter, Columbus led Georgia 10-6. On the Force's first possession Greisen was sacked by DL Leroy Jones and fumbled on second down. The fumble was recovered by Destroyers DL Ken Jones and K Peter Martinez capitalized on the turnover with a 26-yard field goal to make the score 3-0. Georgia answered with a 10-play drive that consumed 5:52 and resulted in a six-yard touchdown pass to WR Derek Lee. Columbus WR Damien Groce returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the Georgia four-yard line, and on the next play, QB Matt Nagy connected with Groce for a touchdown. On first and goal from the 10, Greisen was intercepted by DB Jerald Brown for the second turnover by the Force in the first quarter.
Georgia's woes continued in the second quarter as the team trailed Columbus by 14 points, 41-27. After the teams traded scores to begin the quarter, Greisen under threw Lee and Brown picked off the Force quarterback for the second time on the night. This time the Destroyers converted the turnover into seven points as Nagy carried the ball into the endzone from four yards out. Georgia responded with a seven-yard strike from Greisen to WR Chris Jackson. Martinez drilled a 38-yard field goal on an un-timed down after Georgia DB Reggie Doster was flagged for catch interference on the kickoff.
The Force defense flexed their muscle in the third quarter as they held the Destroyers offense out of the endzone with three defensive stops, and Georgia's offense outscored Columbus 14-7 in the third quarter. LB Umar Muhammad and DL Ernest Allen combined for a sack on the first possession of the second half, as Columbus was held out of the endzone. Greisen and the Force offense responded when he found Lee from four yards out for Lee's second touchdown of the night. On the Destroyers first play from scrimmage, Nagy lofted a pass deep down the middle of the field and Force DB Hamin Milligan leaped in the air for the interception. The interception marked the first for Milligan in a Georgia uniform. Greisen continued to find the open receiver as he threw a dart to Jackson in the middle of the endzone to tie the game at 41. Groce returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for the only Destroyers points in the quarter. Martinez's kickoff bounced off the crossbar and was recovered by Columbus WR David Saunders. The Force defense once again answered the call as they forced a field goal attempt from 21 yards out, which Martinez missed wide right. Columbus led Georgia 48-41 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter opened with a four-yard touchdown run by Greisen to knot the game at 48. Force K Xavier Beitia kicked the ball of the iron on the ensuing kickoff and Georgia FB Matt Huebner recovered the ball at the eight-yard line. Greisen connected with WR Troy Bergeron to give the Force their first lead of the game 54-48. Nagy added another rushing touchdown with 2:05 remaining in the game; this one was from one-yard out. The two teams each would score again setting up a two-point conversion attempt for Columbus. Nagy connected with WR Marcus Knight in the corner of the endzone to give the Destroyers a 62-61 lead that they would not give up.
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